Input requested
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 1,312
Likes: 156
From: Richmond Texas
Thanks guys! I feel bad for the seller. He is NOT rich. Tiny little house way out in the country. He was taken and it makes me feel sad. I stayed there for 3 hours. He was very accommodating by letting me take things apart etc. As you can see.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 1,312
Likes: 156
From: Richmond Texas
Oh, It NEEDS paint. Baaaaddd..... However paint has never been an issue with me. Just that the wiring isn't buggered up, the frame isn't rusty, and no major mechanical issues. However this car has so many little things as well as the paint. If it were an original 454 car with the original engine I might still go for it. I am not trying to buy a car to sell or have a certain monetary value. I want something I can wrench on and keep for the next 30 to 40 years. Well, not quite that long. Like I said it pulled hard and rode well.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 6,842
Likes: 285
From: Palmdale CA
No major mechanical issues? The whole rear suspension is not very far off from needing to be totally rebuilt. Half shafts, leaf spring and maybe even trailing arms. None of this simple. There's a ton of minor issues, that have all the smell of "while you're there...", which naturally increases the velocity of outgoing moolah.
Take it from a guy, who's whole front clip was a non factory replacement, back in the day, it looks like there's a lot of potential hidden horrors in that one. Mine had a little bit sloppy goppy, but it was mostly well done, the only detractor, being the million little ripples in the fiberglass, but you've got to have your face almost in it, to really notice it and structurally, it is sound.
I agree the consensus. Of course, you can go ahead and and get the car, you've got a pretty good idea of what you think it was needs. All any of these projects need is time and money in varying amounts. You know too, what you can expect at this price point and it seems typical, because there's usually a lot wrong with any of these cars , and that's just the way it is. It really comes down to, your comfortable with level of of risk tolerance.
Take it from a guy, who's whole front clip was a non factory replacement, back in the day, it looks like there's a lot of potential hidden horrors in that one. Mine had a little bit sloppy goppy, but it was mostly well done, the only detractor, being the million little ripples in the fiberglass, but you've got to have your face almost in it, to really notice it and structurally, it is sound.
I agree the consensus. Of course, you can go ahead and and get the car, you've got a pretty good idea of what you think it was needs. All any of these projects need is time and money in varying amounts. You know too, what you can expect at this price point and it seems typical, because there's usually a lot wrong with any of these cars , and that's just the way it is. It really comes down to, your comfortable with level of of risk tolerance.
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 1,748
Likes: 268
From: Central Wisconsin
Just an observation. I've never seen a thread like these where the posters said "good deal" or "go for it". They seem to always say to walk away from the car, that you'd go broke fixing it. I'm not saying this is a $20,000 car, I just keep seeing a pattern. You said you want a car to wrench on, I cant think of a better car to put your time in than a big block bumper car. Even if it isn't this one.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor
Joe Kucinski
10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!
Joe Kucinski
5 MOST and 5 LEAST Popular Corvette Model Years in History!
Joe Kucinski
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 183
Likes: 17
I've got a 73 and it's not anywhere near that bad. It needs some work but nothing like that.
I've had it 4 months and I've already put 2k into it and I need to put at least that much more into it to get it ready for the spring. If I end up putting a 5 speed in it......forget about it. Might as well stop keeping track after that. It all adds up unbelievably fast which wouldn't be bad if you could get your money out of it like a c2, but you can't. I'm not sure why, I think the c3s are the most unique version of the corvette.
I've had it 4 months and I've already put 2k into it and I need to put at least that much more into it to get it ready for the spring. If I end up putting a 5 speed in it......forget about it. Might as well stop keeping track after that. It all adds up unbelievably fast which wouldn't be bad if you could get your money out of it like a c2, but you can't. I'm not sure why, I think the c3s are the most unique version of the corvette.
Last edited by 73 Scott; Dec 5, 2015 at 01:25 AM.
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 183
Likes: 17
That was a bad one. There are nice straight ones out there but they always need work.
Anything with a chrome bumper is 43 years old. It's to be expected.
The more I read about them the more I realize how lucky I got when I bought mine.
Anything with a chrome bumper is 43 years old. It's to be expected.
The more I read about them the more I realize how lucky I got when I bought mine.
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 3,590
Likes: 830
From: PA
Compare this...
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...y-454-m21.html
...with the ad for car you posted. One car is worth the time to investigate further, the other is a disaster that you immediately walk away from.
I didn't even try too hard. There are lots of great 1968-1972 Corvettes out there... You just have to keep looking! I will say though that if you want the old car to fulfill the role of daily driver/grocery getter you'll probably be disappointed if you are used to driving a C6... The new car handles that job so much better.
Regards,
Stan
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...y-454-m21.html
...with the ad for car you posted. One car is worth the time to investigate further, the other is a disaster that you immediately walk away from.
I didn't even try too hard. There are lots of great 1968-1972 Corvettes out there... You just have to keep looking! I will say though that if you want the old car to fulfill the role of daily driver/grocery getter you'll probably be disappointed if you are used to driving a C6... The new car handles that job so much better.
Regards,
Stan
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 1,231
Likes: 115
From: Yelm Wa
Maybe the ones you are looking at, but I assure you that the majority of us C3 owners don't consider their C3's "big pieces of $h!t".
No comparison between a C6 and a C3 entirely different cars.
Quality C3's are out there, it requires patience, knowledge, and money to find/buy one.
I can see buying a C6 would be easier.
Last edited by tokim; Dec 5, 2015 at 07:25 AM.
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 1,857
Likes: 332
From: Cartersville GA
Looks at it this way.....You learned a lot.
Is it a 20k car....NO. 15K prolly not. Maybe 12-14....JMO
What you showed of the birdcage and kick panel areas looked pretty good.
Good luck with the hunt.
Brian
Is it a 20k car....NO. 15K prolly not. Maybe 12-14....JMO
What you showed of the birdcage and kick panel areas looked pretty good.
Good luck with the hunt.
Brian
Racer
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 383
Likes: 16
From: SARNIA ONTARIO
rear end
No major mechanical issues? The whole rear suspension is not very far off from needing to be totally rebuilt. Half shafts, leaf spring and maybe even trailing arms. None of this simple. There's a ton of minor issues, that have all the smell of "while you're there...", which naturally increases the velocity of outgoing moolah.
Take it from a guy, who's whole front clip was a non factory replacement, back in the day, it looks like there's a lot of potential hidden horrors in that one. Mine had a little bit sloppy goppy, but it was mostly well done, the only detractor, being the million little ripples in the fiberglass, but you've got to have your face almost in it, to really notice it and structurally, it is sound.
I agree the consensus. Of course, you can go ahead and and get the car, you've got a pretty good idea of what you think it was needs. All any of these projects need is time and money in varying amounts. You know too, what you can expect at this price point and it seems typical, because there's usually a lot wrong with any of these cars , and that's just the way it is. It really comes down to, your comfortable with level of of risk tolerance.
Take it from a guy, who's whole front clip was a non factory replacement, back in the day, it looks like there's a lot of potential hidden horrors in that one. Mine had a little bit sloppy goppy, but it was mostly well done, the only detractor, being the million little ripples in the fiberglass, but you've got to have your face almost in it, to really notice it and structurally, it is sound.
I agree the consensus. Of course, you can go ahead and and get the car, you've got a pretty good idea of what you think it was needs. All any of these projects need is time and money in varying amounts. You know too, what you can expect at this price point and it seems typical, because there's usually a lot wrong with any of these cars , and that's just the way it is. It really comes down to, your comfortable with level of of risk tolerance.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 1,106
Likes: 168
2018 C2 of Year Finalist
That probably isn't the car for you but I think you shouldn't give up. You will find your car! I must say that was a very accomodating owner. Although I understand a prospective buyer's desire to look at a car as much as possible I would not let someone do as much disassembly as this guy did.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 38,923
Likes: 1,481
From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 2,239
Likes: 74
From: Palatine, Peoples Republic of Illinois
St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11-12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-‘18
NCM Sinkhole Donor
I looked for mine for several years before pulling the trigger. I did what I usually do - bought at the height of the market. I still ended up with a good solid car to play with. Keep looking. They're out there.
As for the pattern in the posts - I think people only post these cars when they really don't know what they're looking for or have some doubts of the own. That's why so many get negative comments. There are a lot of bad ones out there and you have to be careful. Fortunately, forum members don't mind helping people become addicted.
As for the pattern in the posts - I think people only post these cars when they really don't know what they're looking for or have some doubts of the own. That's why so many get negative comments. There are a lot of bad ones out there and you have to be careful. Fortunately, forum members don't mind helping people become addicted.
